Applauding heroes

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Mark Lillmars, 48th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., a geographical separated unit of the 23rd Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., U.S. Air Force Captain Francis Hallada, 58th Rescue Squadron from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., also a GSU of the 23rd Wing, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lucas Ferrari, also with the 48th RQS, are applauded by 23rd Wing leadership and the audience of the Army vs. Air Force football game at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. Nov. 5, 2011. Lillmars and Hallada received Bronze Stars for their service while deployed to Afghanistan, where their actions directly contributed to the safety of injured personnel. Ferrari received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions while also deployed to Afghanistan, where he performed cricothyrotomy surgery on an injured service member en-route to the hospital on a HH-60 Pave Hawk. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua J. Garcia/ Released)